Wilson lives in the San Diego suburb of Rancho Santa Fe. He’s an executive with Duckett-Wilson Development Co. and is a partner in a chain of nine Fish Market seafood restaurants. And he’s never been to Paradise.

Why would he want to give almost $1.1 million to a community he’s never visited?

“When I read about what happened in the L.A. Times, it occured to me that how significant high school was to me,” he said. “It was the last carefree time in my life.”

Wilson said that when he was in high school, he played football, ran track and was involved in student government, and stayed after school late.

“My mom always had dinner ready for me,” he said. “We weren’t poor, we were limited, but I always had a place to lay my head at night.”

Wilson said he now feels for an entire high school that doesn’t have that carefree environment.

“We’ve got to get them back into high school,” he said. “If $1,000 will help do that, then OK.”

He considered other ways to get the high school the money. Foundations and gift cards were two. But the bureaucracies associated with organizations might slow the flow of that money.

“Gift cards limit them to a store,” he said. “We could do bank accounts, but then they have to get to it.”

After a conversation with Principal Loren Lighthall, Wilson said he decided on cash and would trust the students and the families to do what’s best for them.

“You have to take our chances, we’re getting them the money they need now,” Wilson said. “I want them to have the feeling that someone cares about them. Because when all the newspapers and TV people leave, people unfortunately will forget about them.”

Wilson will be on hand to deliver the checks in Chico. The site of the assembly has yet to be chosen.